From July, 2019, changes to South Australia's screening laws will affect people who are working with children. There will be a transitional period for people to attain the new Working With Children Check (WWCC) with a number of existing clearances to be used until the prescribed time limit. People working or volunteering with children will be required to have a child-related clearance from July 1, with those issued with a screening or registration prior to 2019 still being able to use it until the transitional date. Minister for Human Services Michelle Lensink said by the end of the transitional period everyone must have a new WWCC. "This will simplify the process for screening, making it more transparent for people working or volunteering with children," Ms Lensink said. "This applies to everyone who works with children, from sports coaches and bus drivers, to teachers, party entertainers, ministers of religion and health and emergency services workers. "Only the Department of Human Services Screening Unit can do a working with children check, making our screening system stronger, and more consistent." The State Government has supplied volunteer screening checks for free since November 2018. For more information on WWCC visit www.screening.sa.gov.au/wwcc

Changes to working with children laws

From July, 2019, changes to South Australia's screening laws will affect people who are working with children.

There will be a transitional period for people to attain the new Working With Children Check (WWCC) with a number of existing clearances to be used until the prescribed time limit.

People working or volunteering with children will be required to have a child-related clearance from July 1, with those issued with a screening or registration prior to 2019 still being able to use it until the transitional date.

Minister for Human Services Michelle Lensink said by the end of the transitional period everyone must have a new WWCC.

"This will simplify the process for screening, making it more transparent for people working or volunteering with children," Ms Lensink said.

"This applies to everyone who works with children, from sports coaches and bus drivers, to teachers, party entertainers, ministers of religion and health and emergency services workers.

"Only the Department of Human Services Screening Unit can do a working with children check, making our screening system stronger, and more consistent."

The State Government has supplied volunteer screening checks for free since November 2018.

WWCC changes

People who work or volunteer with children must have a valid child-related clearance from July 1, 2019

Transitional arrangements are in place, including people with a DCSI or DHS child-related clearance can continue until it expires; people who have a professional registration, such as teachers, must get a WWCC before they renew their current professional registration or as their current screening runs out

Emergency services workers have until July 1, 2022 to transition to a WWCC

People who have a current National Police Certificate have until July 1, 2020.